Monday, October 25, 2010

I've just returned from a whirlwind trip to Los Angeles. I love this town.

I was there for less than 72 hours, but I truly believe it is possible to have a real L.A. experience in this short amount of time.

Arriving at LAX Sunday morning, I was greeted by clouds and fog..I loved it....it set the mood. I picked up the rental car and headed to town, only to be greeted by thousands of Aids Walk participants. It was a beautiful sight, and a real L.A. moment. After an hour and a half of constant detours and parking lot roads, however, the frustration and irritation set in.

"Who.....who won't wear the ribbon?"

But don't worry. a very nice L.A. Sheriff's Dept. officer allowed me to bypass a detour, and minutes later, I was ensconced in a little hotel in a leafy residential section of West Hollywood.

The adventure begins with a glamorous party in the hills that evening.

An eclectic and interesting crowd, some well known, some not so much (me) led to a fabulous evening to remember.

The next morning...breakfast outside (of course) at Urth Cafe. I recommend the bread pudding topped with fried apples.

Then...off to explore...

The chalkboard in the cabinetry showroom of Christopher Peacock.

Tod Carson has an attractive establishment on North Robertson Blvd.

They offer reproduction lighting by Limehouse Lamp Co. that is quite beautiful and would fool the most discerning eye.

The neighborhood around the hotel was charming...

I loved this house. (the car too)

The cascading garden, in mostly pale and sage greens, was what first caught my eye.

Throw away your paint brushes.

Look...it's a red house.....RED!

A great modern home with a fabulous second story covered patio.

...because the trim is pink and green.

Charm...right ON the street.

Hacienda / Chalet ?

Alcoves with fabulous lanterns and pretty planted pots.

A quick lunch / snack...

courtesy of a taqueria truck...

Then off to Roxbury, one of my favorite streets in town, for a little house stalking.

A few delicious domiciles below:

All that wanton lust and coveting has made me hungry again, so let's head out to the beach for dinner...

Point Dume State Beach in Malibu is a gorgeous stretch of land. It is also the location of The Sunset restaurant, a wonderful dining establishment located right on the beach with sweeping views of the Pacific.

I thoroughly enjoyed my burger and fries while sitting in the lounge...

watching Monday Night Football.

I live on the east coast oceanfront and have seen my fair share of spectacular sunrises. What a treat it was to end my short stay in L.A. with an equally spectacular sunset.